10thumbs Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Hi Truckers, I'm not in your league, my older brother has a license though and is out West on the road at this moment. I like this video, and the truck, and the sound. What is "floating the gears"? Diesels are cool. Michael
purepmd Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Hey Michael,When I first started driving, Over 20 years ago now, it was explained to me in these very words:"The clutch is for starting and stopping, ONLY." Spend any amount of time with the same truck, and you learn its peticular traits. You learn how to shift to neutral just by lifting your foot off the throttle. Then, hopefully, you learn how to shift it into the next gear, up or down, just by engine RPM only. Down shift and you raise the engine speed with the throttle, up shift and you wait for the engine speed falls to the normal gear step. The gear step being the difference in engine speed, at the same road speed, (MPH). For example, if at 50 MPH, in 12th gear, and the tach says 1100, drop to 11th gear and the tach would read 1600 RPM. This varies with every different transmission. An 18 speed may only have a 250 step when you split each gear, 1-2, 3-4, etc. While a 9 speed will drop, say 500 RPM, having only half the available forward gears. A car, with a manual transmission does the same thing, just with a bigger swing of the tach needle. Floating the gears, basically, is shifting, up or down using only your right arm and right foot. No clutch. With practice, the shift lever, almost 'floats' into the desired position. No grinding, nashing, or missed gears. It will literally shift with surprising little effort. The alternative, is 'Jamming' it into gear. Yes, the term Gear Jammer, long before my time, was a derogatory term.Clear as mud?Mark.
Petetrucker07 Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 ^^What he said!I drove a truck that when I got in it, it had 600 miles on it. When I got out of it, it had almost 700000 miles on it. It had the original clutch and it never needed adjusting. From what I was toldd, it went till 1.2 million miles before the clutch was replaced, and that was only because the motor had a bad leak and covered in it oil. Even then, it still had life left, if it weren't for the oil.
10thumbs Posted November 20, 2015 Author Posted November 20, 2015 Hi Mark,I kind of understand what you write.Like shifting a car going down a hill. No load on the motor and you can easily slip into the next gear.
10thumbs Posted November 20, 2015 Author Posted November 20, 2015 Hi Clayton.So no riding the clutch in your cabin, right?
Petetrucker07 Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 The clutch is not a foot rest. Even in traffic, I put in a low gear and idle. So I'm not in and out on the pedal.
purepmd Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Yes, Michael, very similar effect, only you use the throttle to break the torque lock in the transmission instead of letting gravity do it for you.Hey Clayton, you, obviously know what I am talking about. And know it well. It is a great feeling when you row through the gears, hitting each one just right. Did I mention I HATE class 8 trucks with automatics. It is a well practiced, well executed skill set that is dying at an alarming rate. If you notice in the video, the driver's left leg never moves after he gets rolling. Not even when he splits gears, or changes ranges. You can tell, he LIKES driving that truck, and showing off a bit.Mark.
Petetrucker07 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) If I wanted to drive an automatic, I would've been been a postal worker delivering the mail. I agree with ya. Not just shifting, but a true TRUCK DRIVER is an endangered specie. There aren't many of us left, but who can blame them with government trying to turn driving into a 9 to 5 job.....Whoa! I almost got my soap box out again. But, yes. Shifting, nice and smooth, each clicking into place, rollin into the throttle is a good feeling.All that's missing is the loud whistle of a C15 turbo and loud rap from a straight set of 8s. OOHH how I miss them days! Iam thankful for YOUTUBE. Videos of the good ol days.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dLaadCuk7vo Edited November 21, 2015 by Petetrucker07
purepmd Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 ^^Preach, Brother, Preach.If it weren't for the Federal D.O.T., Creeper Cops, Steering Wheel Holders, and ignorant 4 wheelers, it would be the perfect job. I am all teary eyed and nostalgic now, myself. Lol.
Petetrucker07 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Going off topic for a second. My buddies boss just bought this toy. It has a small cam cummins, center point steering and straight cut 13 speed. Man, how I miss the whine a straight cut 13.
Petetrucker07 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 ^^Preach, Brother, Preach.If it weren't for the Federal D.O.T., Creeper Cops, Steering Wheel Holders, and ignorant 4 wheelers, it would be the perfect job. I am all teary eyed and nostalgic now, myself. Lol.
rctruk Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 I love to shift gears also....thought automatics were garbage. I was given an 06 Pete with an Allison 6sp auto. It was nice for city driving but scary going down hills. If you weren't on the brakes at the right time,the thing would upshift and take off. Next I was given a 15 KW with an Allison 7sp rugged duty trans with deep reduction and a jake brake. The thing is pretty cool to drive,but I do miss shifting.
guitarsam326 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Im with y'all on the gear jammin, when im forced to drive an auto.....im done! I havent driven ine yet, but im dyin to drive a twin stick! And finding a true trucker is definitely a dying thing.
rctruk Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Sam...You will love a two stick truck....I learned on an International Cargostar with a 3208 cat (naturally aspirated) and a 4by 4. Fun to drive but lacking on power.
guitarsam326 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Theres a local guy that has a needle nose kw with a 903 paired to a five and four. Hopefully he will feel sorry for a poor ol boy and let him have a spin!
10thumbs Posted November 21, 2015 Author Posted November 21, 2015 I think I understand what you guys are talking about, I mean the fun, but also the rhythm of shifting the gears right. When you know you're doing it right. Hey guys, another question:When traveling with the family as a kid, and a big semi was passed by dad, my brother and I would stick our arms out the window and do a tug motion. Most always the truck pilot would pull his horn. Do kids do this anymore? OK, this was back in the 50's. Just wondering. As a kid I thought the Mack Thermodynes (?) looked good. I liked the big hoods and grilles.The video, what is he doing to show off?Thanks guys for the replies, I think we all like reading of what you guys know.Michael
guitarsam326 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Michael, kids still do the "tug" motion to me, but its mostly on the highway now and you cant really hit the air cuz people will freak out!
Petetrucker07 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 The last truck I drove, I loved doing it for kids. Mainly because I loved it too. That truck had a set of train horns on it. I took advantage of any reason to lay on them. They were also great in traffic when 4 wheelers were doing something they shouldn't be (read stupid). On that note, I love watching the horn blasters videos on youtube. I'm rollin around laughing at those.
10thumbs Posted November 21, 2015 Author Posted November 21, 2015 Clayton, I'll have to check out the horn blasters too. I've been watching a lot of big Diesels, with headphones and loud.
Petetrucker07 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 YES! It messed up they scare people, but it's hilarious at the same time. I've gotten a few people when I had big horns.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now